The Gear System

LANDING GEAR DESIGN:

The standard tricycle gear also allows for excellent forward visibility
while taxiing - an important consideration when operating the aircraft in off-airport
environments. The heavy-duty tricycle gear system was chosen as the standard gear configuration for the STOL CH 801 to meet the needs of today’s pilots: Most pilots are not experienced ‘taildragger’ pilots, and a tricycle gear provides better stability and control on the ground.

The STOL CH 801 uses a high tail configuration to allow easy rotation of the aircraft to achieve high lift during take-offs and landings. In a tailwheel configuration this requires a tall and awkward main gear to achieve the same high angle of attack (see illustration).

Furthermore, the tricycle gear allows for a level cabin area – this makes loading and unloading the aircraft much easier than with an inclined cabin.

In a tricycle gear configuration, the wing is at a neutral angle of attack while the aircraft is on the ground, as opposed to a maximum lift angle with a taildragger. Tailwheel airplanes are thus more susceptible to ground wind conditions while taxiing or even while parked outdoors.

The rugged gear system is inspired by Heintz' ZENITH CH 2000 design, an low-wing Zenair design developed as a certified trainer.

The STOL CH 801 utilizes a heavy duty gear system developed specifically for off-airport operation. The main gear comprises of a simple single-piece aluminum spring leaf which is bolted to the bottom of the fuselage. The single carry-through main gear provides double cantilever deflection. The main gear is fitted with large treaded tundra tires, with independent hydraulic disk brakes.

While it’s not the lightest gear system around, it provides excellent rough-field capability when combined with large tires, and is very durable, simple and virtually maintenance-free.

The nosewheel strut uses a single heavy-duty bungee for shock absorbency. The nosewheel is steerable, with direct linkage to the rudder pedals for very effective and responsive ground handling and tight turns. The main wheels are equipped with independent hydraulic disk brakes.